Method of and apparatus for sinking pipes or well holes into the ground



T. F. MOORE May 15, 1934.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SINKING PIPES OR WELL HOLE-S INTO THE GROUNDFiled Nov. 26, 1932 2 SheetsSheet 1 2} /4L /5 l7 l9 2/ 3 n hwENTuR BY@MWWL A'ITUR EYE T. F. MOORE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SINKING PIPESOR WELL HOLES INTO THE GROUND Filed Nov. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN ENTBRBY %y% WITNESS J mm M ATTORNEYS Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATESMETHOD ()F AND APPARATUS FOR SINK- ING PIPES OR WELL HOLES INTO THEGROUND Thomas F. Moore, Morris Plains, N. J.

Application November 26, 1932, Serial No. 644,482

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for sinking pipes orwell holes into the ground of the character set forth in my pendingapplication Serial No. 545,444 filed May 6th, 1931, to be used either asa permanent foundation for portions of super-structures or for theremoval of water from subterranean pockets through the medium ofwell-points, similar to those set forth in my Patents Nos. 1,570,697,January 26th, 1926; 1,648,587, November 8th, 1927; 1,657,684, January31st, 1928; 1,729,790, October 1st, 1929; and 1,854,344, April 19th,1932, any one of which may be used in connection with the presentinvention to form a part thereof.

These pipes or holes are frequently and systematically sunk over largeareas to considerable depths and through strata of widely varyingdensities so that in some instances it is extremely difficult to causethe pipes to pass through the denser strata under the usual drivingmethod.

I have found, however, that by introducing water or air under pressureinto the pipes to discharge from the lower ends thereof during thesinking operation, the resultant pressure and liquefying action of thewater upon the soil in and around the lower end of the pipe, commonlyknown as jetting, aided by the weight of the pipe greatly acceleratesthe sinking of the pipes and holes through the various strata eventhough the latter may be extremely dense and resistant to direct drivingforce.

I have also found that if the pipe is turned or oscillated angularlyabout its vertical axis during the sinking operation, its passagethrough the denser strata is greatly facilitated, particularly when thelower end of the pipe is slightly flared and serrated.

The main object of the invention is to render these operations lesslaborious and more expedi tious and thus permit a far greater number ofholes to be sunk in a given time than has heretofore been practised.

One of the specific objects is to provide simple means for introducingwater and air under pressure into the pipe to discharge from the lowerend thereof into the soil for removing and loosening the soil from thelower end of the pipe and thereby to expedite the sinking of the pipeinto the soil aided by its own weight.

Another object is to provide the lower end of the pipe with outwardlyflaring serrations or teeth for the purpose of slightly enlarging thehole to a greater diameter than the remaining portions of the pipe andthereby to reduce the friction of the pipe with the soil and allow it toenter more readily through strata of varying densities and at the sametime permitting the jetted soil at the lower end of the pipe to bewashed outwardly between the serrations and upwardly along the outsideof the pipe to the surfaces of the ground.

Another object is to provide simple means under the control of anattendant for intermittingly turning the pipe about its axis as itgradually sinks into the soil and thereby to render the sinkingoperation more expeditious and reliable.

A further object is to provide means whereby a well-point may beenclosed within and simultaneously sunk with the pipe ready for use forwithdrawing water from the soil preferably after the sinking operationis completed.

Qther objects and uses relating to the specific parts of the apparatusand to the method of using the same will be brought out in the followingdescription.

In the drawings:--

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hole sinking apparatus embodying thevarious features of my invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are horizontal sectional views taken respectively onlines 2-2 and 33, Figure 6.

Figure 4 is an enlarged face view, partly in section, and partly brokenaway, of the adjacent portions of the lower and upper pipe sectionsshowing more particularly the coupling connection between said sectionand the underlying vertically movable collar carrying the means bywhich'the pipe sections or at least the lower pipe section may be turnedabout its axis during the sinking operation.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 6.

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view, partlybroken away, taken on line 6-6, Figure. 1.

Figures 7 and 8 are horizontal sectional views taken respectively onlines 77 and 88, Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a face view of the lower end of the pipe to be sunk into theground.

As illustrated, this apparatus comprises a relatively heavy iron pipe 1of any suitable length depending upon the depth to which it is to besunk into the ground, said pipe having its lower end provided withoutwardly flaring serrations or teeth 2 for cutting through thedifferent strata of soil and enlarging the hole to a greater diameterthan that of the remaining portion of the pipe, thereby reducing thefriction between the soil and pipe and allowing the latter to pass morefreely into the soil under the jetting action of the Water through thelower end thereof, aided by the weight of the pipe, in a mannerhereinafter more fully described.

The pipe 1 is provided with diametrically opposite lengthwise guide ribs3 welded 01' otherwise secured to its outer periphery to extend themajor portion of the length thereof, but terminating some distance belowand above its upper and lower ends, as shown more clearly in Figures 1,4, 6, 7 and 8, for receiving and guiding a vertically movable carriage9.

This carriage comprises a pair of diametrically opposite collar sections10 extending loosely around corresponding sides of the pipe and providedwith diametrically opposite pairs of flanges 11 connected by oppositepairs of transverse bolts 12 upon which are journaled a correspondingnumber of grooved rollers 13, the rollers at each side of the pipe beingarranged in vertically spaced relation and engaged with thecorresponding ribs 3 on the periphery of the pipe to enable the carriage9 to be easily raised and lowered along said pipe.

The collar sections 10 are connected by bolts 14 to the inner bifurcatedend 15 of a radial handle 16 by which the pipe 1 may be turned about itsaxis by reason of the engagement of the rollers 13 with the guide ribs 3as shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 7.

The bolts 14 for connecting the inner end of the handle 16 with thecollar sections 10 may be riveted, welded or otherwise permanentlysecured to said collar sections to extend outwardly therefrom, thusleaving the collar sections free to move vertically along the pipe 1, itbeing understood that the ribs 3 are engaged in the grooves of thecorresponding rollers 13 to establish a spline connection between thecollar sections and pipe for turning the latter as the collarsectionsare turned by the angular movement of the handle 16.

The purpose of this angular movement of the pipe 1 about its verticalaxis is to facilitate the entrance of its lower serrated end into thestrata, the effect of which is to cut the strata and thereby to allowthe pipe to sink more readily under its own weight.

This angular movement of the handle 16 and corresponding angularmovement of the pipe is effected by one of the attendants standing uponthe ground adjacent the pipe and in order that the handle may be .withineasy reaching distance of the operator at all times during the sinkingof the pipe into the ground suitable means is pro vided for raising andlowering the carriage 9 and handle 16.

For this latter purpose, a collar 17 is rigidly secured by welding orotherwise to the outer periphery of the upper end of the pipe 1, asshown more clearly in Figures 1 and 6 and is provided withcircumferentially spaced pairs of flanges 18, those of each pair beingconnected by a bolt 19 for receiving and supporting grooved sheave orroller 20 which, as shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 5, are arrangedin outwardly diverging planes substantially radial to the axis of thepipe 1 and also at opposite sides of the vertical plane in which therollers 13 are located.

A pair of cables 21 are passed over the corresponding rollers 20 andhave their inner ends extended downwardly and attached to the bolts 14between the opposite arms 15 of the handle 6 and corresponding collarsections 10, as shown more clearly in Figures 1, 4, 5 and '7, the outerends of said cables being extended downwardly to the operator on theground whereby the carriage 9 may be adjusted vertically at will to keepthe handle 6 in convenient reaching distance of the operator as thesinking of the pipe progresses.

That is, when the pipe is first stood on end at the point where the holeis to be sunk, it will be necessary to lower the carriage 9 and itshandle 16 within reaching distance of the operator, but as the sinkingof the pipe continues, it will be necessary to hold the carriage at thedesired level.

An additional relatively heavy pipe or cap section 22 of substantiallythe same diameter as, but considerably shorter than the pipe section 1,is detachably mounted upon the upper end of the lower pipe sectioncoaxial therewith and upon the lower end thereof is rigidly secured acollar section 23 adapted to rest upon the upper end of the collarsection 17 to form a continuation thereof when the pipe sections 1 and22 are assembled end to end.

The adjacent ends of the collar sections 17 and 23 are provided withinner annular grooves or recesses for receiving the opposite ends of arubber or equivalent packing ring 24 which, when placed in operativeposition, covers both of the joints between the pipe sections 1 and 22and collar sections 17 and 23 to prevent leakage of water and. air fromthe interior to the exterior of the pipes at the joints and is securedin the groove of the lower collar 17 by one or more screws 24', Figure6.

The lower ends of the inner and outer walls of the annular groove in theupper collar 24 are beveled or flared to allow the upper end of thepacking ring 24 to readily enter and center itself in said groove whenthe upper pipe section 22 is lowered onto the upper end of the lowerpipe section 1.

The collar 17 on the upper end of the pipe 1 is provided at one sidewith spaced flanges 25 connected by a bolt 26 to which is attached thelower end of an upwardly extending hoisting cable 27, the upper end ofthe latter being adapted to be connected to a hoisting device, notshown, by which the pipe 1 and parts carried thereby may be brought toan upright position preparatory to sinking the same into the ground, thesame hoisting device serving also as a means for withdrawing the pipe 1and parts carried thereby from the ground, after being sunk thereinto,when or if desired.

The collar 23 on the lower end of the pipe section 22 and the upper endof said pipe section are provided on one and the same side with separatepairs of spaced flanges 28 and 28' connected by bolts 29 and 29' uponwhich are mounted rollers 30 and 30' for holding the hoisting cableagainst undue outward swinging movement and thereby serving also to holdthe pipe sections 1 and 22 in a vertical position when the cable istightened by the hoisting apparatus in the act of lifting the entireapparatus to an upright position preparatory to placing the same in theground.

The plates 28 and 28' are welded or otherwise permanently secured to theperiphery of the collar 23 and upper end of the pipe section to projectoutwardly therefrom in substantially the same plane as the plates 25 onthe collar section 1'7 of the lower pipe section 1, as shown moreclearly in Figures 3 and 6.

The lower portion of the upper pipe section 22 is provided withdiametrically opposite pairs of spaced plates 31 welded or otherwisepermanently secured to the periphery thereof and to the collar 23 andconnected by transverse bolts 32 upon which are pivoted a pair ofdiametrically opposite pawls 33 having their lower ends provided withshoulders 33' movable into and out of engagement with the adjacentportions of the lower face of the collar 17 on the upper end of the pipesection 1, as shown more clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 4.

The upper ends of these pawls 33 are extended above their respectivepivots 32 and are spring pressed outwardly by coil springs 34 therebyyieldingly holding the lower ends 33' of thepawls in engagement with theunderside of the collar 1'7 for holding the pipe sections 1 and 22 endto end in engagement with each other.

A cap plug 35 is welded or otherwise permanently secured to and partlywithin the upper end of the pipe section 22 and is provided withupwardly projecting spaced flanges 35' connected by a cross bolt 36 towhich is secured the lower end of a hoisting cable 3'? having its upperend attached to a hoisting device, not shown, but by which the entireapparatus may be hoisted to an upright position with the lower end ofthe pipe 1 resting upon the ground at the point where the hole is to beformed.

It will benoted, however, that the same cable may be used for hoistingthe upper pipe section 22 when its locking pawls 33 are disengaged fromthe underside of the collar 1'? on the upper end of the pipe section 1for a purpose hereinafter described.

A weight rod or bar 38 is welded or otherwise secured at its upper endto the cap plug 35 to extend downwardly therefrom through the upper pipesection 22 and into the upper end of the lower pipe section 1 when bothpipe sections are coupled together end to end in the manner pre viouslyexplained.

The weight rod 38 is generally cylindrical an of less diameter than theinterior diameter of the pipe sections 22 and change so as to form anintervening space through which water and air may readily pass todischarge at the lower end of the pipe section 1 for displacing the soiltherefrom through the spaces between the serrations 2 as the sinking ofthe pipes progresses.

In order that the weight rod 38 may be held centrally within the pipesections 1 and 22, it is provided with lengthwise peripheral ribs 39 ar-I ranged in uniformly spaced relation circumferentially and adapted toslide along and against the inner face of the pipe section 1 to enablethe water and air to be distributed evenly through the intervening spacein its passage through both p pes, and also to automatically aline theupper pipe section 22 with the lower pipe section 1 during the couplingoperation, aided by the cable 27, Figure 6.

Suitable means is provided for steadying the apparatus in an uprightposition preparatory to sinking the same into the ground and for thispurpose the upper end of the pipe section 22 is provided withdiametrically opposite eyes or loops 40 to which a pair of guy wires orcables 41 are connected to'extend downwardly therefrom to within easyreaching distance of attendants upon the ground or to suitable anchoragein the ground where they may be held when the apparatus is brought tothe proper upright position by the hoisting cable 37 or 27, theattaching eyes 40 being welded or otherwise permanently secured to theupper end of the pipe section 22 in a plane at right angles to theflanges 28 and 28'.

It will now be understood that when the hoisting cables 37 and 27 aretightened in the act of lifting the apparatus to an upright position,the tightening of the cable 27 aided by the guy ropes 41, greatly assistin holding the apparatus in an upright position against swaying, itbeing understood that when the apparatus is brought to an uprightposition with its lower end resting on the ground at the point where thehole'is to be formed it will extend upwardly to a considerable heightabove the surface of the ground.

Before the pipe sections 22 and 1 are coupled to each other, a wellpoint, of the character set forth in my patent referred to, is attachedto the lower end of the weight rod 38 in a manner presently described sothat when said pipes are coupled together the well point will beenclosed within the pipe 1 with its lower end just above the lower endof the pipe 1.

The upper end of the well point is provided with an elbow 43 to allow apart of the pressure fluid in the pipe 1 to pass through the well pointfor loosening and jetting out the soil from within the lower end of saidpipe as the latter sinks into the ground and thereby to furtheraccelerate the sinking of the pipe and hole.

During this jetting and sinking operation, the well point serves toprevent the entrance and upward passage of large stones and otherobstacles into the pipe and. thereby to maintain free exit of the waterand air from the lower ends of the p pe and well point.

The means for attaching the well-point to the lower end of the weightrod 38 consists of a pair of laterally spaced flanges 44 welded orotherwise secured to the lower end of the weight rod 38 and connected bya cross bolt 4.5 to which is pivoted the upper end of a tubular member46carrying near its lower end a pivotal pin 47 and having its lower endadapted to engage the upper end face of the elbow 43, Figure 6. A link48 is pivoted to the bolt 47 to extend downwardly therefrom at oppositesides of the tube 46 and elbow 43 and is provided at its lower end withan inwardly projecting flange or shoulder 48' for engaging the lower endof the elbow.

A holding pin 49 is removably secured in suit able apertures in oppositesides of the link 48 to engage the underside of the horizontal portionof the elbow 43 and thereby to cooperate with the shoulder 48 forsupporting the well point from the link.

It will be noted that the pivotal pins 45 and 4'7 are disposed at rightangles to each other, thereby establishing a flexible or universal jointconnection between the weight rod 38 and well point 42 and permittingthe well point to automatically assume a central position within thepipe section 1.

The upper pipe section 22 is provided at its upper end with branch.inlet nipples 50 and 50 one of which as 50 may be connected by a conduit51 to any suitable source of water supply under extra pressure forsupplying water to the interior of the pipe sections 22 and 1 whencoupled to each other and permitting the water to discharge on the soilat the bottomof the pipe 1 for jetting purposes or rather for displacingthe soil and allowing the apparatus to sink more easily into the soilunder its own weight.

The other nipple 50 may be connected by a conduit 51' to a source of airsupply under extra pressure whereby air may be caused to pas-s throughboth pipes and to discharge at the lower end of the lower pipe with thewater for further displacing the soil from around the lower end of thepipe, it being understood that a part of the water and air will bediverted from the interior of the pipe 1 through the well point in themanner and for the purpose previously described.

The purpose of sinking the well point into the hole formed by the pipe 1is to enable its upper end or elbow 43 to be connected to a suction pumpor equivalent device (not shown) for withdrawing any water which mayseep into the hole from the surrounding soil and thereby to free thesoil from such water preparatory to excavations for the foundations ofsuper-structures.

It, therefore, follows that the well point, including its suction pipe,must be of somewhat greater length than the depth of the hole so thatwhen the pipe 1 is withdrawn and the lower end of the well point isresting on the bottom of the hole its upper end will project above thesurface of the adjacent soil for connection to the suction device.

Operation When it is desired to sink a hole into the ground, the wellpoint 42 will be attached in the manner described to the lower end ofthe weight the well point and adjacent end of the weight rod rod 38after which the pipe section 22 with the weight rod will be alined withthe other pipe section 1 and then the two pipe sections will be coupledtogether by means of the jaws 33 to cause to enter the pipe 1, thelength of the weight rod and well point being sufficient to allow thelower end of the well point to approach closely to the corresponding endof the pipe 1 when the pipes are coupled to each other, thus completingone of the hole forming units.

This unit is then hoisted to a substantially upright position by meansof the cable 37 and a suitable hoisting apparatus, not shown, connectedthereto with the lower end of the pipe section 1 resting upon the groundat the point where the hole is to be formed, it being understood thatduring this hoisting operation the upper end of l the hole forming unitwill be steadied against swaying by means of the guy ropes or cables 41.

This hoisting of the hole forming unit to an upright position may beaided by the attachment of the cable 2'7 to another or separate hoistingapparatus, not shown, under which conditions the tightening of the cable27 against the rollers 29 and 29 would assist materially in steadyingthe upper end of the unit against swaying movement.

The fluid supply pipes 51 and 51' will then be connected to theirrespective sources of supply, in

' this instance water and/or air, under pressure either from a hydrantor mechanically driven pump, not shown, it being understood that thesepipes will be provided with suitable valves under the control of theoperator for admitting and shutting off the supply of fluid tothe upperend of the pipe section 22, as previously explained.

When the apparatus is ready for use, one or the other or both of thevalves will be opened to allow water and/ or air to pass into the upperend of the pipe section 22 and thence downwardly around the weighted rod38 and into the lower pipe section 1 to discharge at the lower endthereof between the serrations 2, thereby displacing the soil from thelower end thereof.

Owing to the outward flare of the lower end of the pipe 1, it is evidentthat the gradual sinking thereof into the ground will enlarge the holebeyond the diameter of the remaining portions of the pipe 1 to reducefriction thereof with the soil and thus allow the apparatus to sink morereadily under its own weight.

If the soil should be sufficiently dense or hard to retard the sinkingof the apparatus under its own weight, the entire unit may be turnedangularly about its axis at intervals by means of the handle 16 and itsconnections with the carriage 9 which, as previously explained, will beadjusted by means of the cables 21 to the desired level for convenienceof operation by the attendant on the ground.

During this inflow of water and air under high pressure, a part of suchwater and air enters the well point through the elbow 43 and passesdownwardly therethrough to discharge at the lower end thereof forliquefying and expelling any soil which may tend to collect in the lowerend of the pipe 1 thereby assisting in expelling the soil from withinthe pipe outwardly between the serrations 2.

The combined jetting of the liquid and air through the lower end of thepipe land well point 42 or through the pipe alone, not only expels thesoil from between the serrations 2 on the lower end of the pipe and wellpoint but causes any excess accumulations of the liquefied soil to passupwardly through the hole around the pipe to discharge from the upperend of the hole over and upon the surface of the ground, therebyautomatically removing such accumulations and at the same timefacilitating the sinking of the pipe into the ground by reason ofreduced friction of 'th pipe therewith.

When the pipe 1 of the hole forming unit has been sunk into the groundto the required depth, the water and air supply through the pipes 51 and51' is shut off after which the coupling jaws 33 will be released fromengagement with the lower end of the collar 1'7'on the pipe 1, thusdisconnecting the upper pipe section 22 from the lower pipe section 1.

The upper pipe section 22 and parts carried thereby including the weightrod '38 and well point 42 are then hoisted by means of the cable 37until the elbow 43 of the well point is brought to a'level some distanceabove the upper end of the pipe 1 which then extends some distance abovethe surface of the ground, thus exposing the locking pin 49 which isthen removed to disconnect the well point from the link 48 and allow thelower end of said well point to drop back into the bottom of the pipe 1,it being understood that the well point, including the elbow 43, Will'beof greater length than the depth of the hole to cause the elbowtoproject above the surface of the ground after the pipe section 1 hasbeen withdrawn to permit connection of said elbow with a suction pipe orpumping system, not shown.

While the upper pipe section is still held in its elevated positionafter the well point has been dropped a second well point is hoisted byany suitable means and attached to the lower end of the link 48 by there-insertion of the locking pin 49 under the elbow as 43 of said secondwell point.

The upper pipe 22 with the second well point attached thereto is thenfurther hoisted and its hoisting means manipulated to bring the secondwell point into the pipe 1 where it is lowered until its lower end restsupon the upper end or elbow 43 of the first well point which is thenresting on the bottom of the hole in which position the lowering ceasesand the upper pipe 22 is held in this position pending the upwardwithdrawal of the lower section 1 in the manner presently described.

The lower pipe 1 is then drawn upwardly from the hole a by means of thecable 2'7 until its upper end engages the lower end of the upper pipe 22thereby causing the jaws 33 to automatically interlock with the loweredge of the collar 17, as shown in Figure 4.

The pipe sections 1 and 22 being now coupled to each other with bothwell points within the lower pipe section 1, the first being releasedand the second attached to the upper pipe section, it is evident thatboth pipe sections together with the second well point may be hoistedsimultaneously clear of the surface of the ground and then lowered tosome other location where the holeforming operation is to be repeatedleaving the first well point in the hole ready to be connected to thesuction device for withdrawing the water from said hole.

It will thus be seen that the same apparatus may be used repeatedly forsinking any number of holes within a limited area without reinstallingthe hoisting devices, and that after the first hole is formed and thefirst well point deposited therein, the apparatus remains in asubstantially vertical position for all succeeding operations in thatarea, thereby greatly reducing the time, labor and cost of equipmentnecessary for each operation.

If desired, the lower pipe section 1 may be first hoisted to an uprightposition by means of the cable 2'7 with the lower end of said pipesection resting upon the ground at the point where the hole is to beformed after which theupper pipe section 22 with the weight bar 38 andwell-point 42 therein may be hoisted to an upright position by the cable37 and brought into vertical alinement with the lower pipe section 1aided by the action of the tightened cable 27 upon the sheaves 30 and30'.

The upper pipe section and parts carried thereby will then be lowered bythe cable 37, thereby causing the weight rod 28 to enter the upper endof the pipe 1 until both pipe sections are brought together end to endand coupled in the manner previously described.

During this operation, the ribs 39 on the weight rod 38 will slideagainst the inner walls of the age, transportation or installationwithin a relatively small compact space.

It is evident, however, that various changes may be made in thestructural details and that the device may be used for sinking holes inthe ground for other purposes without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upper pipesections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacentends of said sections to each other, a well point having means forconnection to a suction device and of greater length than the depth ofthe hole to be formed, means attached to the upper pipe section forsupporting the well-point loosely within the lower pipe section, andmeans for hoisting the upper pipe section, when released, away from thelower pipe section without disconnecting the well-point therefrom.

2. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upper pipesections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacentends of said sections to each other, a weight-rod secured to and withinthe upper pipe section and extended into the lower pipe section when thesections are coupled, the major portions of said rod being spaced fromthe inner walls or the pipe sections, and means for introducing fluidunder pressure into the upper pipe section and through said space todischarge at the lower end of the lower pipe section.

3. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upper pipesections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacentends of said sections to each other, a weight-rod secured to and withinthe upper pipe section and extended into the lower pipe section when thesections are coupled, the major portions of said rod being spaced fromthe inner walls of the pipe sections, means for introducing fluid underpressure into the upper pipe section and through said space to dischargeat the lower end of the lower pipe section, and a well point carried bysaid rod to extend downwardly therefrom into the lower pipe section.

4. An apparatus for sinking holes into the ground comprising co-axialpipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling theadjacent ends of the pipe sections to each other, a well point withinthe lower pipe section, releasable means for attaching the well point tothe upper pipe section, said apparatus being adapted to be placed in anupright position with its lower end resting upon the ground at the pointwhere the hole is to be formed, and means for introducing fluid underextra pressure into the upper pipe section to discharge at the lower endof the lower pipe section.

5. An apparatus for sinking holes into the ground comprising co-axialpipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling theadjacent ends of the pipe sections to each other, a well point withinthe lower pipe section, releasable means for attaching the well point tothe upper pipe section, said apparatus being adapted to be placed in anupright position with its lower end resting upon the ground at the pointwhere the hole is to be formed, means for introducing fluid under extrapressure into the upper pipe section to discharge at the lower end ofthe lower pipe section, and means for hoisting the upper pipe sectionwhen released from the lower pipe section for permitting the release ofthe well point and allowing it to drop back into the lower pipe section.

6. An apparatus for sinking holes into the ground comprising co-axialpipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling theadjacent ends of the pipe sections to each other, a well point withinthe lower pipe section and of greater length than the depth of the holeto be formed, releasable means for attaching the well point to the upperpipe section, said apparatus being adapted to be placed in an uprightposition with its lower end resting upon the ground at the point wherethe hole is to be formed, means for introducing fluid under extrapressure into the upper pipe section to discharge at the lower end ofthe lower pipe section, and means for hoisting the lower pipe sectionfrom the ground after the release of the well point to allow the upperend of the well-point to be connected to a suction device.

7. The herein described method of sinking holes in the ground and forwithdrawing water from the holes consisting in attaching a well point toa pipe so as to project beyond one end thereof, coupling that end of thepipe to one end or" a second pipe to cause the well point to enter thesecond pipe, bringing the coupled pipes to an upright position with thelower end of the second pipe on the ground at the place where the holeis to be formed, introducing fluid into the upper pipe to discharge fromthe lower end of the lower pipe for displacing the soil therefrom andallowing it to sink into the ground under its own weight, uncoupling thepipes, hoisting the upper pipe with the well point attached, detachingthe well point and allowing it to drop back into the lower pipe,attaching a second Well point to the upper pipe while the latter ishoisted, and finally raising the lower pipe from the ground so as toenclose the second well point and recoupling the lower pipe to the upperpipe for reuse in sinking other holes.

8. In an apparatus for sinking holes into the ground, a pipe sectionadapted to be placed in an upright position with its lower end restingon the ground at the point where the hole is to be formed, a second pipesection adapted to be placed in an upright position above the firstsection and provided with a weight rodiadapted to slide telescopicallyinto the upper end of said first section for alining said sectionscoaxially, a wellpoint, and releasable means for attaching the W l-min the ht rod.

9. In an apparatus for sinking holes into the ground, coaxial pipesections adapted to be placed end to end in an upright position with thelower end of the lower section resting upon the ground at the pointwhere the hole is to be sunk, hoisting means including a cable attachedto the lower pipe section and extended upwardly along the outside of theupper pipe section, a second hoisting means including a cable attachedto the upper pipe section, and means on the upper pipe section forengaging the first cable to assist in holding the pipe sections in axialalinement while the upper pipe section is being raised or lowered.

10. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upperpipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling theadjacent ends of said sections to each other, and a weight-rod securedto and within the upper pipe section and extended into the lower pipesection when the sections are coupled.

11. In an apparatus for sinking holes into the ground, co-axial pipesections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling the adjacentends of the pipe sections to each other, a Well point, and releasablemeans for attaching the well-point to the upper pipe section to causesaid well-point to enter the lower pipe section when the pipe sectionsare coupled.

12. In an apparatus for sinking holes in the ground, lower and upperpipe sections arranged end to end, releasable means for coupling theadjacent ends of said sections to each other, a weight-rod secured toand within the upper pipe section and extended into the lower pipesection when the sections are coupled, a well-point, and releasablemeans for connecting the well-.point to the weight rod.

THOMASF. MOORE.

